Thai Port 1-2 Chonburi - Match Report: 2010

TPL

Thai Port 1-2 Chonburi

PAT Stadium

Attendance: 3,504

Wednesday 29th September, 2010

Match Report by Kevin Watkin

Chonburi FC defeated Thai Port FC 2-1 in an entertaining match at PAT Stadium. Played in front of 3,500 fans, the game started at a high tempo, with both sides keen to attack. Port looked more in control, as they were getting better balls in to the box, while Chonburi's first few forays ended with offside flags. A 20-minute torrential downpour that began about the 15 minute mark, altered the flow of the game. Players were forced to scoop the ball in front the instead of dribbling, passes along the ground stopped short on the waterlogged surface, and lofted balls skidded, making control difficult. The entertainment value was not lost, however, as both teams were able to alter their style of play, and the end-to-end nature of the match continued.

Somewhat surprisingly, Chonburi took the lead in the 23rd minute. A free kick just inside the Port half was played short to Suree Sukha, who slipped past a defender and in to the penalty area, before playing a cross to the near post, where Pipop Onmo slotted in from 6 yards. Thai Port spent most of the remaining time in the first half searching for an equaliser. The rain eased off in the second half, but the pitch conditions remained the same. While both teams still looked to attack, Port still were creating more opportunities and seemed more desperate to get into the game. Jakrit and Pongpipat were combining particularly well down the left flank.

However, it was again Chonburi who were first to find the net. A through ball for Pipop forced Port 'keeper Munze to come charging out and slide accross the turf in an attempt to win the ball. Pipop reached the ball first, and pushed it past Munze, then fell over the sliding goalie. I was about as far away as it was possible to be from the incident (at the other end and on the opposite side), but it seemed there was minimal contact. Ney Fabiano converted the spot kick, making it 2-0 after an hour.

5 minutes later, another penalty was awarded, this time to Port. I had a better view this time, albeit from the other side of the pitch, and thought this one was soft too. A Port player knocked the ball past a Chonburi defender, who stuck out a leg, and it appeared to me Port player simply flopped over it. Sarayoot Chaikamdee scored to make it 2-1. This seemed to finally get Chonburi going and they had two near misses not long after, hitting the bar, and having a goal disallowed for one of the more bizarre offside incidents you'll see.

A corner was partially cleared, before a Chonburi player smashed in a shot from just outside the box. Munze dived for it, and got his hands to the ball, but there was enough power in the shot to take it past him. On another day, it would have continued into the net, but Munze's touch forced the ball to bounce in the 6-yard box, where it got stuck in the mud, and trickled towards the line. Ney Fabiano, in an offside position (and aware of this), waited over the ball, but it stopped short. He tapped it in, and was flagged. (I initially thought he was just time-wasting). Port also pressed hard for an equaliser, and went close couple of times, also hitting the bar. In the end, Chonburi held on for the win. Overall, it was a good game, despite the conditions. Port will feel disappointed that they didn't get a point for their efforts.

As a side note, it was refreshing to see a referee quickly dealing out at least 3 yellow cards for time-wasting by Chonburi (though to be fair, they weren't bad by Thai standards). He was also prepared to send players to the sideline for treatment instead of stopping the match. And he was consistent - he did it in the first 10 minutes, and again in the last 10 minutes.